1899 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross
Saturday, 30 December
The enemy commenced shelling at about 1 o’clock this morning, sending in four big ones, and from 20 to 30 rounds of one-pound Maxim. Very little damage and no casualties.
A mock court martial of Kiddy, the electric engineer, was held by Volunteers in the Town Hall this morning. He was charged with having made wrongful accusations against the Volunteers. Was found guilty, and made to apologize, this latter also allowed to be printed. This Court martial was held by the Volunteers with the permission of the Colonel, because the military did not wish to take the matter up, and left it in their own hands to deal with.
Our little Nordenfeldt opened fire at 5.30 a.m. this morning, popping away at the big gun. It must be very annoying to the enemy to have a little thing like that cheeky one attacking them. Low, the man at the gun, has done some more very good shooting and has been twice mentioned by the Colonel in our evening’s general orders.
The enemy retaliated by throwing at us the projectiles from their 94, 12, and Maxim. The first big shell struck immediately at the back of our business place, seemingly making the whole world tremble; the second big one went bang in the police charge office, turning it into matchwood. This place was originally my office where I kept all the spare ammunition. It was a providential sort of affair that this had been removed only a few days previous; it was also by the grace of God that I had also been removed at the same time. Part of this latter shell blew off half the head of a native who endeavoured to lay down behind the wall of the charge office. He was a fearful sight rolling about for half a minute with only half his head.
Saturday, 30 December [2]
The enemy have kept up a continual shelling all the morning.
It is understood that a new commandant has arrived with 1 500 men to reinforce the enemy here, and to make a big fight against our relief column. At any rate the new 12-pounder has arrived, and don’t we know it.
We could see through the glasses this morning an old grey-bearded man, dressed in black cloth, drive up to the big gun in a cart and four horses; this is supposed to be the new Commandant.
We have received news this morning of Methuen having had a three days’ battle at Modder river on the 11th, 12th, and 13th of this month, and that he Is entrenched there. We do not quite understand this and cannot reconcile it with the previous news received, that he had relieved Kimberley, nor with a supposed fight of our relief column with the enemy this side of Kimberley. At any rate we can only live in hope, knowing well that our fellows must be working very hard everywhere.
It is said that our old gun can reach 7000 yards; as we have no shells that burst, and only solid ball, we cannot see if it does any damage.
